What materials - (newbie questions)

cape thread, appoxie clay,papermache,some type of wire brush for ruffing form.pins,

 

To fill the top of the skull cap off, you can use mache, potters clay, or bondo. To clay the eyes, critter clay has very little shrink, if you work fast you can use Apoxy Clay around the eye, but wouldn't recommend it for starters. Make sure the lip slot is super thin, you should have to work a little bit to get the lips tucked, you do not want a wide gap for the lips to fall into, it should be tight.

 

TIME!!!! it is the most important thing you will need

 

Reference, Reference, Reference
Most important tool in my studio!!!!!

 

just do what your doing...if you don't know...ask..since your just getting started, you may want to use a dry preservative...its cheaper than buying tanning supplies and can be bought at any wal mart in the detergent isle(mule team borax)

 

SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU NEED TO DECIDE ARE:

1. What size and type of foam do you need
2. What size and type of eyes are you going to use.

Get together a list of everything you need to order from whatever supply company or get from Walmart you are going to use:

Cape thread
Glovers needle
potters clay
clitters clay
appoxie
pins
file to ruff foam
bondo
spoons
paper plates
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks
saws-all for cutting skull plate
3 inch screws to screw skull plate onto foam
tool to tuck with
stapes to stape cape onto back of foam
knife
papertowels use in nose to keep open
Dawn to wash hide in
welding rods for putting in the ears to hold them while clay dries

And lots of pictures of deer. I would get all the close up pics you can of eyes,ears,nose.And pin them up in your work area.

I think I have everything listed hope this helps you out

Kim
Bubba's Taxidermy

 

Hey Kim, What is this "clitters clay" LOL

 

Sorry about that Good thing I am a taxidermist not an English teacher lol
Kim

 

There are many brands of hide paste that are good, I like McKenzie Paste, but there are many good ones. As for the Bondo, can be used for the ears, setting the antlers, attaching the forms together when you make alterations, etc. There is a long post about switching to bondo from earliners......read it for different ideas about how to do the ears. Good luck!

 

We use derma-grip for hide paste. And we use bondo to set antlers and in the ears.But you may want to order some hide paste from WASCO its oder number is FP190. It takes longer to dry.

Kim
Bubba's Taxidermy

 

I didn't see it above, but Zap-A-Gap is a must.

 

Lots of things....it is like super glue, but takes a little bit longer to set. It works to glue the lips on a McKenzie Cast Lip form, and just about anything you want to glue. I like to use the fine nozzle and put a little along my lip line to make sure it doesn't separate when it dries. I also put some along the antler burr to make sure the skin doesn't pull.

 

Sounds like the best tool for you is to either watch someone mount a deer and take notes or BUY A VIDEO. I purchased a few from McKenzies and learned what to do, what tools and supplies to order.

Better to see one done BEFORE you attempt your first.